Tell us about yourself.
I go by Nikö Blank. I am currently based out of South Korea but I’ve been traveling back and forth to Los Angeles.

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Tell us about yourself as an artist.
The “blank” in my name represents the “blank” aspect of me not showing images or promoting the image of myself as an artist but rather only the musical aspects of my artistry.

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Tell us about the genre of your music.
Currently producing future bass/dance/RnB/Pop music with a melodic, dramatic and cinematic touch… But this is slowly morphing into something new…

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Tell us about the story behind your song.
“Ride”, was supposed to be the poetic, chill dance track of the EP. It was heavily influenced by Frank Ocean/Kaytranada…I’m putting it out in the universe now… I’m going to get Kaytranada to remix this track.

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Tell us about the problems you are facing as a musician.
Always staying inspired is the hardest thing…

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Tell us about the recording and production of the song.
I made a few track ideas and brought them into the session where we wrote the song. The lyrics then went through one editing process and were then re-recorded the vocals with Rush Davis, who nailed it!

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List the names of blogs, radio or TV stations that have supported you so far.
Apple Beats 1, Sirius XM and Los Angeles KCRW etc… have supported me thus far.

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Tell us more about your music career, experience and future goals.
I started making short song ideas in 2011, but most were not very good. Then in the years that followed, I made two independent, full length R&B albums. In the winter of 2015, both albums had been out for a while and I was about to quit music all together. This was when my manager and label head MiSCHiEF BOY found and signed me.

Hopefully in the short future I will be touring and supporting my music worldwide. I love traveling because it’s very inspiring for me. Hopefully if I become successful in music I’d love to engage in educating kids.

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Brief us what inspires you to write, compose and sing.
Other artists’ music always helps me to write songs, it’s how I’ve learned… I’ve studied how others make music and then try to adapt it to my music. Talking with people about life and experiences also help.
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Brief us the top-secret behind making a hit song.
Keep making music… I have almost hundred tracks and counting in my HD. I feel like a hit song is a number game.

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Tell the kind of advice you will give to an upcoming artist.
Focus on small things and enjoy your process.

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Tell us how you write your lyrics, compose, sing and record in the studio.
A lot of voices notes into my phone, listening to music and reading books. Then it’s all about putting in the time/focus and work into creating.

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Name the artists you are willing to collaborate with.
Most recently, Mura-masa, Krane, Lauv, Skrillex, Diplo, Cashmere Cat are artists I’d love to collaborate with.

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State the links to your social networks and stores for purchase of your songs.

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Tell us about your happiest day and saddest day.
South Korea has various weather…I’m influenced a lot by weather.
The sun makes me happy. The rain makes me sad… So working on my “Frame” EP in both L.A where it was sunny all the time, and Korea in the winter (when I was working on ideas for the EP) was a great balance. My happiest and saddest days occurred during the process.

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Tell us how you will spend a million dollars.
I’d like to have a nice place to live… But I think I’d put most of it towards some kind of public utility foundation for kid talent/education. South Korean education system isn’t the best in my opinion. Especially for creatives like myself.

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Tell us how you manage other activities with your music career.
Great time management skills haha.

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Tell us five artists you can regard as legends.
The Funk Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, 2Pac, Michael Jackson… Those are the first 5 that popped into my head.

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Tell us your future plans pertaining music.
Just making more music and hopefully touring the world to support it.

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Tell us what you think about creativity and originality in music.
Originality came from the experience of my life… As corny as that sounds, people’s lives and experiences are different, this makes them original in some aspect. In my case, when I was about 13 years old, I was dreaming of becoming a web designer…This morphed into being a computer programmer when I was around 17. These things combined with my love of music is how I came to the realization I wanted to be an artist. Steve jobs always talked about ‘connecting the dots’ which I think is what happened with me. Steve inspires me a lot.

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Tell us the major reason you are into music.
Because it’s music… I don’t think I could live without it.

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Tell us your view on old school music and new school music in terms of preference.
I have no preference because my roots are more “old school” but I make more “new school” music. To me they are both very enjoyable, they are just different.

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Tell us your most memorable day as an artist.
When MiSCHiEF BOY contacted me for the first time. That is a day I will never forget because it shocked me that someone from half way around the world was interested in my music and had found me… haha.